Portable modular hard disk drive

Claim 1

A portable, modular hard disk drive assembly (10) for mounting to a host computer, comprising: a hard disk drive (12) packaged within a casing (14, 36) and electrically joined with a first electrical connector (20) positioned adjacent an interior surface (16) of said casing (14); a second electrical connector (18) mating with said first electrical connector (20); a circuit board (22) connected to the second electrical connector (18) and containing connector means for transferring electrical power to, input data to and output data from the hard disk drive; a first joining connector (30) connected electronically to a front surface of the circuit board and for connection to a mating connector of a host computer to link the circuit board (22) to said host computer; a second joining connector (28) connected electronically to a back surface of the circuit board (22) and for connection to a mating connector of a portable modular hard disk assembly to link an additional portable modular had disk assembly; a plurality of hollow support posts (33; 34) rigidly connecting the first joining connector (30) to the second joining connector (28); a plurality of attachment screws (60, 62) passing through the hollow support posts (32, 34) and for attachment to a host computer; a back case half (36); a front case half (42), the front case half (42) being fit to the back case half (36) to contain the hard disk drive (12); a plurality of fasteners (48, 50) rigidly connecting the back case half (36) to the front case half (42); and a retention fastener (40) rigidly connecting the hard disk drive (12) and the back case half (36).